(Meng Yiran)
Chao Tianxiang stared in shock, her eyes wide. "How is that possible? He's only just reached level ten, yet he blocked my granddaughter's attack so easily?"
She knew her Serpent Cane Martial Soul's attacks were fierce and overbearing. Even someone at the same level wouldn't have found them so easy to block, yet she hadn't expected him to do it with such apparent ease.
Xiao Jue even reached out and seized the Serpent Cane, gripping it firmly. He brought his face close to Meng Yiran's, close enough for them to feel each other's breath.
"Your attack is still too weak."
Meng Yiran's face flushed red. Being stared at by Xiao Jue's handsome face made her both angry and embarrassed, and she snapped, "Let go!"
Xiao Jue grinned. "If I let go, won't you just hit me again?"
Meng Yiran gripped the Serpent Cane with both hands and poured more Soul Power into it, trying to pull it back.
The two became locked in a tug-of-war over the Serpent Cane.
Xiao Jue whispered, "Meng Yiran, a Poké Ball isn't meant for hunting Soul Beasts. Using it that way is an awful waste of a treasure."
Meng Yiran was stunned, her heart shaking wildly. How does he know about the Poké Ball?!
She forced herself to stay calm and stubbornly replied, "What are you talking about? I don't understand!"
She released all her Soul Power, and the Serpent Cane blazed with light.
Xiao Jue shook his head. "I guess I'll have to teach you a lesson."
He held the Serpent Cane in his right hand and gathered black water in his left. The water churned, giving off a corrosive air.
"First Soul Skill, Abyssal Turbid Waves!"
"Pfft!"
The black water shot out in a column.
Meng Yiran held fast to the Serpent Cane and took the full force of the attack head-on. With a muffled grunt, she let go and was sent flying backward.
"Bang!"
She fell to the ground, soaked through. Her clothes clung tightly to her body, making the lines of her figure stand out even more.
The black water clinging to her continued to corrode, throwing her Soul Power into disorder and leaving her whole body weak.
Meng Yiran sat huddled on the ground, staring at Xiao Jue in disbelief.
Someone had even snatched away her Martial Soul. It was an utterly humiliating disgrace!
A mutton-fat jade bangle on her fair wrist shimmered faintly. With a flash of light, a long cloth pouch appeared in her hand.
Clearly, her bangle was a Storage Soul Tool.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
Soul-Breaking Knives flew out!
Xiao Jue was startled. I almost forgot she has Hidden Weapons too!
Black water gathered in his hand, forming a water shield.
Fortunately, those Soul-Breaking Knives were only ordinary throwing knives, with no Soul Power behind them.
The black water stopped the Soul-Breaking Knives, leaving them suspended within it as if held fast.
Tang San was startled at the sight. This was the first time he had seen someone else use Hidden Weapons in this world!
As if venting her frustration, Meng Yiran sent another volley of knives flying. Xiao Jue's black water easily neutralized every one of them, and none even touched the hem of his clothes.
Meng Yiran's eyes widened. "How is that possible?" she cried.
Meng Shu sighed and shook his head. "Alas, girl, admit defeat. You're no match for him."
Meng Yiran lowered her head. Pampered by the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny since childhood, she had never suffered such humiliation.
Little pearls fell as she sobbed, "How could this happen? I lost so easily to a level-ten Soul Grandmaster!"
A system panel popped up before Xiao Jue:
[Ding, task completed!] [12 Envy Points recovered!] [Current Envy Points: 22] [Martial Soul bonuses: spiritual power increased! Perception increased!] [The higher the Envy Points, the greater the bonuses!] [Martial Soul Leviathan, Sin of Envy has reached level 22. Second Soul Ring obtained automatically!]
Xiao Jue was delighted. Twelve points. Looks like I've recovered just about all the system fragments from those three.
He walked over and held the Serpent Cane out to Meng Yiran, his voice gentle:
"Meng Yiran, take care of your Martial Soul. Don't let someone snatch it away so easily next time."
Meng Yiran looked up, her eyes still a little red. She took the Serpent Cane and asked irritably, "Did you come here to make fun of me?"
Xiao Jue shook his head and smiled. "Of course not. You're already excellent. But you don't need to practice with throwing knives anymore. Hidden Weapons are second-rate."
Not far away, Tang San clenched his fists, his face livid.
Wasn't Xiao Jue slapping him in the face with those words?
Xiao Jue reached out a hand and pulled Meng Yiran to her feet. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered:
"You already have a Poké Ball, so you only need to focus on using it well. But you have to use it correctly."
Meng Yiran's pupils contracted. She too spoke at a volume only the two of them could hear:
"How do I use it? Doesn't it just make it easier to capture Soul Beasts and then absorb their Soul Rings?"
Xiao Jue shook his head and patiently explained:
"From my analysis, the Soul Beasts you capture with a Poké Ball can be tamed and even raised. You can make them obey your commands.
In other words, you can summon lots of Soul Beasts to help you fight!"
Meng Yiran was astonished, her eyes going round.
Indeed, she had studied it. The Poké Ball was like a special Soul Tool for storing living things, and the Soul Beasts she captured really weren't hostile to her when she released them again!
Meng Yiran felt much better, and a smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you, Xiao Jue."
The two were already standing close together. As Meng Yiran spoke, she suddenly leaned in and planted a smacking kiss on Xiao Jue's cheek.
Her soaked body pressed against him too, bringing with it a soft sensation.
The system panel appeared before Xiao Jue once more-
[Ding, 1 Lust Point obtained!] [Current Lust Points: 6!]
Xiao Jue leaned close to her ear and said with a roguish smile, "You dare kiss me in front of so many people?"
Meng Yiran was flustered by his teasing instead, her face and ears turning red. She hurriedly took a step back. "Th-that was a thank-you gift!"
She put some distance between them, her heart pounding like a frantic little deer.
This man was handsome and strong, and he had taught her something too. Who wouldn't fall for him?
Meng Shu coughed. He had noticed Meng Yiran's feelings too. Stroking his beard, he smiled and said:
"Hehe, young friend Xiao Jue, would you be interested in coming to our family to develop? We can devote all our resources to you."
Chao Tianxiang hurriedly added, "I heard that Immovable Wisdom King say you're only a cleaner? That's an insult to your talent!"
She shot Zhao Wuji a fierce glare.
Zhao Wuji shuddered and shrank back.
He could beat Snake Granny alone, but against both members of the Peerless Dragon Snake, even a Titled Douluo would have to think twice!
Xiao Jue put his hands behind his head and laughed. "Hahahaha, no, no."
He turned to look at the people from Shrek Academy.
Ning Rongrong was pouting, her face turned away, looking thoroughly sulky.
Xiao Jue thought, There are too many system fragments to harvest at Shrek Academy. If I leave, I won't be able to harvest them anymore.
Xiao Jue smiled and said, "I still have my lovely friends here."
Hearing that, Zhu Zhuqing breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want Xiao Jue to leave.
He walked back to Ning Rongrong's side.
Ning Rongrong snorted. "Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has far more resources. We can give them all to you!"